Today, you can choose from many types of area rugs. Wool rugs are still favored among most rug connoisseurs, but synthetic rugs are sold in high numbers as well. Before buying expensive wool area rugs or cheap area rugs manufactured in a factory, educate yourself on the different styles and types.

Flokati rugs have been around since the 5^th Century and are a trademark of Greek rugs. They are made only from New Zealand wool and are bathed in the waterfalls of the Pindus Mountains for 40 hours. This process shrinks the backing and, rather than the rough surface one would expect with wool, a soft silkiness is created due to the pressure of the constant falls. Flokati area rugs are delicate and should only be used in low traffic areas of your home.

On the flip side, natural fiber rugs are made with materials that include cotton, bamboo, sea grass, and other plants. These flat woven rugs are reversible and used in a variety of casual settings. These cheap area rugs are versatile and make up a good portion of your 9×12 area rugs that are sold to cover and protect hardwood flooring.  These large area rugs can handle a lot of foot traffic, including that from household pets and smaller children. However, they have a shorter life than wool and synthetic area rugs.

Machine made rugs are made by power looms and are usually imported from Europe or Belgium. These large area rugs are made from both wool and synthetic fibers. Because they are inexpensive and mass produced, you won’t find one that is one-of-a-kind. What you will find is a cheap alternative to handmade rugs that is just as aesthetically pleasing and can withstand a lot of wear and tear.

Hand hooked rugs are often referred to as Oriental rugs since they are made almost exclusively in China. The tedious art of petite point is used in many of these hand hooked area rugs to give it the look of embroidered art. Because of the small needles used in this form of needle point, the colors are more vibrant, the details richer. This is reflected in the higher price asked for one of these special area rugs, especially if you want a large area rug. The backing on hand hooked rugs is made of latex since there are no knots and therefore nothing to which the pile can anchor. Hand hooked rugs are appreciated for their intricate design and are often hung for display as well as used in low traffic areas.

One of a kind large area rugs are usually made by a skilled artisan who hand knots the rugs. Hand knotted rugs require a high level of skill, patience and time. A 9×12 rug can take as long as a year to complete, using this method. The finest rugs have as many as 400 knots per square inch, a mind boggling number. More commonly, you will find around 150 knots per square inch. Hand knotted area rugs are the most expensive of all rugs sold due to the quality, precision and time taken to create these masterpieces.

A combination of wool, silk and cotton are used to complete hand knotted rugs. Cotton is most often used in the foundation of these large area rugs, but never seen in the actual pile. What you do see in the rug is the wool pile, often accented with silk knots and designs. The silk is too expensive to be used in the entire rug, but adds beauty and sheen to the already exquisite designs. Hand knotted area rugs are the most durable and can be used for decades, making them perfect to pass down through the generations as heirloom rugs.

While round area rugs can be made using any of the methods listed above, they are often made using the braiding technique. Braided and cotton rugs were made by early Americans to provide warmth in the winter and color year round. It is a practice that is finding new popularity in modern homes as an outlet for creativity and as a way to spend quality time with family, away from technological interruptions and distractions. The advantage to making or purchasing a braided rug is that they are versatile enough to use on porches or in the kitchen. You can use several in play rooms or use a single large area rug in a family room.

Always remember to protect the floor beneath the rug by using a rug pad. It is also a good safety feature in that it prevents slipping. Sweep your rug once a week and vacuum it just as often to remove lint and fuzz and to keep it looking fresh. Discourage bare feet from walking on either your ornate large area rugs or even smaller, cheaper ones. Oils from the skin transfer onto the material and damage color and fibers. Beat the rug once every couple of months to remove excess dirt. Wash your rug by hand using minimal amounts of gentle detergents and air dry once a year.

Honestly assess your budget before you shop. Manufactured area rugs can be found for as little as $100. Hand crafted works of art that take as long as three years to complete can run into the thousands.

Qualify the durability you need in a rug.  Most rugs will hold up for between five and ten years in high traffic areas. If you are in the market for a rug that will last longer than that, a hand knotted rug will last two to three times that amount of time without losing its beauty. Rugs used in bedrooms or formal areas with low traffic can also last dozens of years, include machine made and flat woven rugs.

With the basics out of the way, it is now time to learn the difference between various types of wool area rugs. For instance, cheap rugs that are machine made can still provide you with the decorative aesthetics you desire for your room. You can tell if the rug you are looking at is machine rug by looking at the back of it. If it has perfect stitching and binding, then it is most certainly machine made. The difference as compared to handmade rugs is that they are vastly more detailed and imperfect.

Types of Knotted Rugs

The first thing to note about knotted rugs is that the edges are hand finished. It is common for the design and color to show imperfections and irregularities, a trait that is actually desirable. You will also notice that the fringe on the edge of the rug is an extension of the entire piece, not added later as in machine made rugs.

Symmetrical knotted rugs are usually made by Turkish and Kurdish tribes from Iran and Turkey. These types of rugs are favored by those who lean toward clean line design elements.

Asymmetrical knotted rugs are most often made in Egypt, China and India, although this style can still be found in Turkey and Iran. This particular knotting practice creates a much finer weave than symmetrical knotting.

Types of Woven Rugs

Flat woven rugs are crafted entirely without the use of knots. The rugs are created by passing the horizontal, or weft strands through vertical, or warp strands. This is what gives the rug its flat appearance.

Pile woven rugs are also referred to as rugs with a knotted weave. These are the most common types of rugs found at most area rug dealerships. These rugs, like all woven rugs, are made with a loom. The difference in a pile woven rug is that after each row of knots is complete, one or two strands of yarn are passed through the vertical strands and then beaten with a comb to create this unique look.

Hand tufted rugs comprise most of your wool area rugs. The signature of hand tufted rugs is that they are actually made of three distinct layers with a cotton backing to protect your floors. This process also forgoes the practice

of knotting. The wool yarn is punched through the base or main backing to save the weavers time, which in turn saves the buyer money. This process forms tufts that are held in place with latex glue. This particular rug contains three layers, with the top one being sheered to form the pile.

The next step in buying your wool area rug is to decide what your room actually needs. While it isn’t unheard of to use more than one rug in a single room, the room should be large enough to contain them. Round area rugs work well when using multiple rugs. It isn’t necessary for them to be identical. As the matter of fact, variation in the pattern is preferred, whereas variation in colors is not if you are to maintain the design integrity in your room. Smaller rooms are better suited with a single large area rug. 9×12 area rugs can be found in vast supply at most rug dealerships. The key is to make sure that when setting furniture on a large area rug all of the furniture legs fit on the surface. The last thing you want is to have the back legs of your dining chairs on the floor while the front legs are on the rug.

Once you have chosen your rug there are steps you can take to ensure the longevity of your investment. While it’s true that wool area rugs are known for their durability, the beauty of the rugs is protected with a little maintenance by you. Turn the rug 180 degrees at least every six months so that higher traffic areas don’t create uneven wear spots on it. Insist that family and friends at least cover their feet with socks before walking on the rug. Shoes actually cause less harm than bare feet because of the natural oils that are transferred from the body onto the rug.

Vacuum your rug at least once a week to remove lint and excess fuzz that builds up on the area surface. It is also a good idea to sweep the rug with a broom once a week in order to brush off excess oils and dirt. Invest in a rug beater and use it on the rug every other month. Make sure you hang the rug high enough so that it doesn’t drag the ground during the process.

Deep clean your rug once a year. Never steam clean, since the steam can shrink the fibers in your wool area rug. Instead, use a mild detergent like Woolite to wash your rug. Wet your wool area rug first with a water hose and then add a minimal amount of the detergent to a bucket of cold water. Use a clean sponge mop in a gentle wiping motion over your rug. Roll the rug in dry towels to absorb the excess moisture and then hang to dry in a shady area to prevent fading.

The first thing you need to assess is your budget.  This is important before you look at area rugs for your home because the prices can vary considerably.  Due to the speed at which machine made rugs are turned out, they tend to be less expensive than hand knotted rugs. Hand knotted area rugs can take as many as three years to complete, a laborious art that is well worth the money, but definitely not within reach for every buyer. There is a middle ground for those who want more personal detail. Many flat weave rugs are made by two to three workers in a master workshop and are produced in roughly half the time of a knotted rug.

Secondly, you need to consider the amount of foot traffic that will be received by your rug.  A hand knotted, woven or machine made rug made of wool can handle considerably more traffic than one that is made of silk. Even so, if the wool rug you purchase is an antique, one that is made before 1950, you may want to place it in a low traffic area.

Learn to tell the difference between machine made and handmade rugs. Handmade rugs have fringe that are sewn in and actually become an extension of the piece.  Machine made rugs, on the other hand, will have fringe that has been sewn over the rug.  Another way to decipher the difference between man and machine made rugs is to inspect the back side. You will notice that the backs of handmade rugs lack binding in most cases. The weaves or knots on the back will also show irregularities, whereas machine made rugs will contain perfectly spaced rows.

A final note about handmade versus machine made: Handmade dyes are all natural. The colors from these natural dyes can last hundreds of years.  Chrome dyes are used to bind color to wool and cotton used in machine made area rugs.  While this chemical process is superb, it in no way compares to the longevity of natural dyes.

Now that you have a working knowledge of area rugs, it is time to decide on the size, shape and color.  If your goal is entirely based on aesthetics, you may choose a round area rug. A round rug can be used to spice up a room in your home in need of color and interesting patterns without overwhelming the space. Cheap area rugs in this circular shape are perfect in your kitchen or foyer, as they can handle the busy, day to day activities common in these spaces.  If you are searching for a way to reduce noise without entirely covering your prized hardwoods or slate, more than one round area rug can be used in the same room, such as a parlor or library.

Another consideration when buying your area rug is furniture placement. Are you using the rug to define a section of a room? Since the trend in modern architecture is geared toward open concepts, it can be a challenge to separate dining and casual entertaining in a manner that flows easily.  Area rugs can distinguish conversation spaces from formal seating for a fraction of the cost of erecting new walls. It also prevents the risk of poorly placed furniture, a problem many run into when trying to use a cumbersome sofa or table to separate two or more areas within a single room.

A 9×12 area rug can be used to anchor a living room or dining room.  When using a large rug, be sure that your furniture sits on it completely.  The last thing you want is for your guests to pull up to the dining table, only to have the back half of their chairs unevenly placed on the floor, while the front two are slightly raised on the rug.  Choose area rugs that are large enough to accommodate both your dining table and all of the chairs.  In the family room the sofa and recliners should also have all legs positioned directly on the rug.

Don’t think that just because you already have wall to wall carpeting in your home, that you can’t enjoy the beauty of an area rug.  It is perfectly acceptable to adorn your underlying carpet with smaller wool area rugs.  It is a great way to break up the monotony of a bland space without cluttering your room.

The purchase of an area rug is an investment.  Protect this investment by taking proper care of your rug.  Vacuum it once a week to keep the pile fresh and to prevent matting.  Use an underlay beneath the rug to give it every chance at longevity possible.  Not only will this protect the rug from being scratched by the hard floor beneath it, it will also prevent slipping and falling by family and guests.  Another thing to note is that bare feet are not always best on area rugs.  Everyone’s feet contain oils that can eventually damage the fibers and colors on rugs.  Insist that children keep socks or slippers on feet when playing or walking on your area rug.

If you are looking for an area rug that will never entertain the pitter patter of feet, then a Kelim may fit the bill.  This type of area rug, often made in Middle Eastern countries such as Turkey or Kazakhstan, are made without knots.  They are woven with intricate tapestries and are perfect for adorning the walls of your home.  Kashmir rugs, made in India, are usually made from silk.  The ornate patterns are fashioned with Persian knots that are sewn right into the woven fibers.